Committee approves limited option for pension systems to invest in regulated digital-asset products

Senator Guthrie introduced Senate Bill 19 85, calling it the "Strategic Pension Protection Act," and said the bill "simply gives Oklahoma State Retirement Systems the option, not a requirement, to consider limited investments and regulated digital assets as part of their investment strategies." The proposal limits eligible investments to federally regulated products, large-market-cap assets and caps allocation at 5% of any retirement account.

Committee members asked whether the language should read "invest in digital assets" and whether retirement systems currently hold such assets; the sponsor said systems do not currently hold digital assets and agreed to an amendment inserting the missing preposition to clarify intent. Members debated volatility, fiduciary discretion and the chosen market-cap threshold; Senator Guthrie said the threshold was intended to limit eligible investments, noting that at the specified cap only one asset would qualify today.

After discussion emphasizing guardrails and fiduciary discretion, the committee voted 9–2 to advance the bill. Supporters said it gives professional fiduciaries flexibility under strict limits; opponents raised concern about future investment risk to pension funds.